This study aimed to compare heterosexual mixed-weight (one overweight and one healthy weight partner) and matched-weight couples on their relationship functioning and eating behaviors. One hundred seventy- four adult couples were recruited and grouped based on their body mass index. They completed a survey online. It was expected that mixed-weight couples would report poorer marital satisfaction and more eating related problems than matched-weight couples, especially among couples with overweight women and healthy weight men. Results showed that men from mixed-weight couples were less satisfied of their relationship and their sexuality compared to men from matched-weight couples. Thus, a gap between partners’ weight seems to be associated with men’s dissatisfaction, no matter which partner is overweight. However, this weight asymmetry has no impact on women’s satisfaction. These findings provide an informative contribution to scientific literature on the impact of weight asymmetry on couple relationship.
Couple Relationship Functioning as a Source or Mitigator of HIV Risk: Associations Between Relationship Quality and Sexual Risk Behavior in Peri-urban Uganda